Dhaka, KL agree to check human trafficking

Bangladesh and Malaysia yesterday agreed to continue cooperation with other countries of the region and make coordinated efforts to fight the growing menace of human trafficking.

They reached the agreement at the fourth meeting of Malaysia-Bangladesh Joint Commission in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.

The talks were held amid a deepening crisis, in which thousands of refugees are stranded in boats off Southeast Asia's shores, with none of the region's countries willing to take them in.

Dhaka also requested Kuala Lumpur to recruit more workers from Bangladesh and consider opening up other potential sectors for Bangladeshi workers, says a foreign ministry release.

The Bangladeshi delegation was led by Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and Malaysia's by his counterpart Dato' Sri Anifah Aman.

The two foreign ministers discussed possible cooperation in the fields of infrastructure development, tourism, culture, education, agriculture and science and technology.

Both sides agreed to explore options to organise the Bangladesh-Malaysia Investment Forum.

They also agreed to establish a mechanism between the meteorological departments of Malaysia and Bangladesh to promote the exchange of seismic measurement data in real time.

Referring to International Mother Language Day, the Bangladesh side proposed construction of a Shaheed Minar in Malaysia. Anifah Aman took note of the idea for consideration.